Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week 2 February – 8 February 2022

Aira – Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that very small eruptive events were recorded at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 31 January-4 February. Ejected incandescent material was visible at night during 4-7 February.

Ambae – Vanuatu : On 5 February the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) reported that the cone in Ambae’s Lake Voui continued to grow and produce steam, gas, and ash emissions. Images from two webcams (in Saratamata, Ambae Island and in Enar, Pentecost Island) showed the plumes rising above the summit and drifting S and SE.

Davidof – Aleutian Islands (USA) : An earthquake swarm, either related to tectonic processes or volcanic unrest, began in the vicinity of Davidof on 24 January. The swarm continued at low levels during 1-8 February with daily small earthquakes.

Etna – Sicily (Italy) : INGV reported that sporadic explosive activity at Etna’s Southeast Crater (SEC) resumed at 0115 on 30 January, producing diffuse ash emissions that rapidly dispersed near the summit, and weak Strombolian activity was visible the next day. Webcam views were intermittent due to weather clouds the next day, but by the morning of 2 February all activity had definitely stopped. Minor and variable gas emissions rose from the Northeast Crater, Bocca Nuova, and Voragine Crater.

Great Sitkin – Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion at Great Sitkin continued during 2-8 February, though cloudy conditions often prevented satellite and webcam views. Seismicity remained slightly elevated. The flow field expanded with up to 100 m of advancement of the S, W, and N flank lava flows. Elevated surface temperatures were periodically identified in satellite images. A steam plume was visible in webcam images during 5-6 February.

Kilauea – Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO reported that lava effusion at the vent of the main cone in the lower W wall of Kilauea’s Halema`uma`u Crater continued during 2-8 February. The lake level fluctuated, likely reflecting variable lava supply along with periods of inflation and deflation. A small spatter cone, less than 6 m tall, located near the E end of the crater produced lava fountains that were 10 m tall in the evening of 1 February. The fountains fed a short flow confined to the E margin of the crater. Effusion from the W vent paused during around 0900-1730 on 2 February. During the rest of the week the effusion rate fluctuated; the lake continued to circulate, although less when the effusion rate was lower. Multiple ooze-outs of lava along the N, E, and S margins of the crater were visible.

Lewotolok – Lembata Island : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Lewotolok continued during 1-7 February, though weather conditions sometimes prevented visual confirmation. Rumbling and weak banging noises were heard throughout the week. Crater incandescence from active lava effusion was periodically observed. White, gray, and black ash plumes rose 100-400 m above the summit during 3-4 and 6-8 February. Incandescent material was ejected 300 m SE during 7-8 February.

Merapi – Central Java : BPPTKG reported no significant morphological changes at Merapi’s lava domes, located just below the SW rim and in the summit crater, during 28 January-3 February. Seismicity remained at high levels and earthquakes were more intense than the previous week. In the SW-flank Bebeng drainage there were as many as 133 lava avalanches that traveled a maximum of 2 km and two pyroclastic flows that extended 2-2.5 km; one lava avalanche also went 300 m NW.

Pavlof – Alaska Peninsula, Alaska : AVO reported that the eruption at Pavlof was ongoing during 1-8 February with lava effusion on the upper SE flank feeding a branching flow on the E flank. Seismicity was elevated with periods of tremor and elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images; both were consistent was continuing lava effusion.

Popocatepetl – Mexico : CENAPRED reported that each day during 1-8 February there were 25-77 steam-and-gas emissions with diffuse ash rising from Popocatépetl and drifting ENE.

Rincon de la Vieja – Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that an eruption at Rincón de la Vieja was recorded at 1853 on 2 February. No plumes were visible due to weather conditions.

Sangay – Ecuador : IG reported a high level of activity at Sangay during 2-7 February, and seismicity was characterized by daily explosions, long-period earthquakes, and signals indicating emissions. Weather clouds and rain often prevented visual and webcam observations of the volcano, though almost daily ash-and-gas plumes were identified in satellite images by the Washington VAAC or in webcam views; plumes rose as high as 1.5 km above the volcano and drifted in multiple directions. Multiple daily thermal anomalies over the volcano were visible in satellite data. Several ash emissions were observed in satellite images on 8February; at 0430 an ash plume rose more than 7 km above the summit, the highest a plume had risen since the current eruption started in 2019. Ashfall was reported in areas to the NW, in the provinces of Chimborazo and Bolivar.

Semeru – Eastern Java : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 1-8 February, though weather conditions often prevented visual confirmation. Crater incandescence was visible during 1-2 and 7-8 February. White steam-and-gas plumes rose as high as 1.2 km above the crater rim during 2-3 February. Eruptive events produced gray-to-white ash plumes that rose 300-700 m during 2-4 and 7-8 February. The active lava flow on the SE flank was 3.5 km long; avalanches from the end of the flow traveled 100-200 m down the drainage during 7-8 February.

Semisopochnoi – Aleutian Islands (USA) : AVO reported that low-level eruptive activity at Semisopochnoi’s North Cerberus cone continued during 1-8 February. Seismicity was elevated, and explosions were occasionally detected in both seismic and infrasound data during 4-8 February. Steam and low-level ash emissions likely occurred daily, though due to weather clouds they were only confirmed in satellite and webcam images during 1-2 and 5-8 February.

Sheveluch – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 28 January-4 February.

Suwanosejima – Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that volcanic plumes from Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater rose as high as 2.2 km above the crater rim during 31 January-7 February. Ashfall was reported in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW).

Turrialba – Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that at 1259 on 6 February a small phreatic eruption at Turrialba’s Cráter Oeste produced an ash plume that rose 100 m above the crater rim. A thermal anomaly from the floor of Cráter Oeste was identified in satellite images on 4 February. The anomaly was last seen in the same location on 25 January, and twice in 2021, during clear weather conditions; the location of the anomaly was the same in those images since March 2021, and likely represented a hot crack venting on the crater floor. Two incandescent points in the crater were visible in overnight webcam images during 7-8 February.

Yasur – Vanuatu : On 2 February the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) reported that sulfur dioxide gas emissions from Yasur’s active lava lake were detected drifting NW in satellite images.

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